East Ridge makes Wes Walz its boys' hockey coach

Former Wild player Wes Walz is the new boys’ hockey head coach for East Ridge.

Walz has coached the East Ridge girls’ hockey team the past two years and was named Section 3A Coach of the Year in 2012-13. He was an assistant with the boys’ program for the 2010-11 season.

He was an assistant coach for the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning from 2008 to 2010. Walz played 11 seasons in the NHL, the last seven with the Wild.

Big Ten honors U’s Handel

Gophers junior shortstop Michael Handel was named Big Ten Player of the Week, the conference announced Monday.

Handel played in three games, going 6-for-13 with a home run and six RBI. He’s the first Gophers player to win the award since Nick O’Shea in May 2011.

Lynx sign draftee

The Lynx announced the signing of second-round draft pick Christina Foggie, whom they selected 24th overall last week.

Foggie, a 5-9 guard, averaged 19.0 points and 3.6 rebounds per game as a senior at Vanderbilt last season.

Etc.

• St. Thomas center fielder Ben Podobinski was the MIAC baseball player of the week, hitting .609 (14-for-23) with 13 runs, four RBI, four walks, four stolen bases, three triples, a double and a home run while successfully handling all 10 of his chances in the field. Bethel’s Jake Hanzalik was pitcher of the week after throwing seven shutout innings against Gustavus, allowing three hits and no walks while striking out five.

• Hamline’s Jamie Rubbelke was honored as the MIAC’s softball player of the week. The sophomore shortstop batted .588 with four runs, four RBI, two doubles and a homer in four games. She has a nine-game hitting streak and has at least one RBI in eight consecutive games. Bethel’s Lindsay Edeen was pitcher of the week, going 3-0 and giving up five earned runs in 19 innings while striking out 14.

• Minnesota State Mankato senior Chris Reed was the NSIC field athlete of the week after winning the hammer throw at the Mount SAC Relays. His distance of 215 feet, 7 inches ranks third in NCAA Division II. His shot put distance of 59-10 ½ ranks fourth in Division II. MSU Mankato freshman Myles Hunter was the track athlete of the week after winning the 110-meter hurdles at the Beach Invitational in Cerritos-Norwalk, Calif. His time of 14.06 seconds ranks fourth in NCAA Division II.